Ever since I first made the decision to enter religious life, I knew that the day would come, God willing, that I would receive a new name.  As I thought about what name I would like to have, many names came to mind including Sr. Mary Cecelia since this is the name of one of the founders of our community in western Kentucky.  St. Cecelia is also the patron saint of musicians whom I invoke when I sit down to practice organ.  However, when I brought this name to prayer, it seemed as though I were forcing it.  It just didn’t seem to fit me.  The saint that would repeatedly come to mind is St. Andrew, the apostle.  The more I prayed about this name, the more I felt as though this could be whom I would be named after. 

Then, came the time to talk with Mother Catherine Marie about what my name would become when I receive the holy habit.  I gave her the names of Sr. Mary Cecelia and Andrew with some form of ‘Mary’.  She and I took the next few days to pray privately over these two names and to ask Jesus to show me the name He wished to give to me. 

The name that came so strongly to each of us separately was that of Andrew.  Therefore, when I receive the habit in October, my name will become SR. MARY ANDREA of the INCARNATE WORD.

‘Mary’ comes first because she is the perfect model for all who wish to follow her Son.  How can any of us, especially Passionists, even hope to follow her Son without following her example of standing at the foot of the cross?  ‘Andrea’, the feminine form of ‘Andrew’ follows ‘Mary’ because that is exactly what I pray I will be able to do through out my life. 

When Andrew first appears in the gospel of John, he is following John the Baptist when John proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God”.  Andrew is introduced to Christ by someone else and immediately follows Him.  After spending time with Jesus, Andrew recognizes that Jesus truly is the Messiah.  From this point on, Andrew is continually bringing others to Jesus beginning with his own brother Simon.  In at least one account of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, it is Andrew who brings the boy to Jesus to give Him the meager amount of food.  After Jesus’ Resurrection, Andrew continues his ministry of bringing others to Christ by setting out on mission to bring the Good News to others. 

Both of these aspects of Andrew seem to fit me very well because I too did not bring myself to Christ, but was introduced to Him by many others including my parents and my home parish, St. John the Baptist.  I feel that part of my vocation is to be like St. Andrew and bring others to Christ and Christ to others through my contemplative life.

Although the reasons behind my title, ‘of the Incarnate Word’, are many, one of the biggest reasons is my utter amazement that Almighty God would choose to become flesh precisely to suffer and die for love of me, a poor sinner.  My title is also an expression of my belief and gratitude for the Incarnate Word present to us in Scripture, Tradition, the Magisterium, the Eucharist, one another, and the circumstances of everyday life. 

One title of Mary that ties together all three parts of my name is ‘ark of the covenant’.  The Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament was something that contained the Word of God (i.e. the Ten Commandments).  Mary, the new Ark of the Covenant, carried the Word of God not only in her womb, but she also treasured them in her heart.  In doing so, she, like St. Andrew, brings Christ to us. 

A picture that depicts this very well is the icon of Our Lady (or the Virgin) of the Sign.  In this icon, Mary is seen standing in a prayer posture like a priest stands for the opening and closing prayers of holy Mass.  In a circle on her chest, the Child Jesus is pictured in a similar posture showing that it is Mary, the Theotokos, or “God Bearer”, who brings the Incarnate Word to us. 

          I pray that our Lady will teach me how to treasure ever more deeply the Word of God that I might follow her example and that of St. Andrew in leading others to Christ.

          On October 20, 2005, I will be receiving the holy habit of the Passionist Congregation and the name Sr. Mary Andrea of the Incarnate Word.